Windows PC, IOT devices lead as most infected devices in 2020

Saviour Adugba

Windows/PC devices and Internet of Things  (IoT) devices lead the way as the devices that have suffered the most cybersecurity attacks, the Nokia Threat Intelligence Report 2020 has revealed. According to the report produced by Nokia, Windows devices account for 38.92 per cent of devices infected by malware. IoT devices come closely behind accounting for 32.7 per cent of total device infections, while Android devices account for 26.64 per cent of device infections. iPhones seem to be the most secured devices according to the report, accounting for just 1.72 per cent of the total infections.

Android infections have reduced considerably

The report shows that android devices infections have reduced considerably when compared year-onyear to 2019. In 2019, Nokia notes that Android devices accounted for 47.15 per cent of infections. In 2020, however, Nokia says that Android devices represent just 26.64 per cent of total devices infected, demonstrating a 20.52 per cent reduction in the percentage accounted for by Android Y-o-Y.

IoT devices infections grow by 100%

Internet of Things or IoT looks like it will still play a huge role in the future. With the promise of 5G, it looks set that more and more devices will be made with the capability to communicate with each other. While that holds wonderful promises and opportunities, the Nokia Threat Intelligence Report, however, shows that business owners and individuals in IoT must be careful as devices with IoT capabilities have seen more infections considerably when compared to 2019.

According to the report, IoT infections have increased considerably, moving from a previous share of 16.17 per cent to 32.72 per cent. Commenting on this, Nokia says, “The rate of success in infecting IoT devices depends dramatically with the visibility of the devices to the internet. In networks where devices are routinely assigned public facing internet IP addresses, we find a high IoT infection rate. In networks where carrier grade NAT is used, the infection rate is considerably reduced.”

Trojans are the most prolific malware

The report also notes that trojans are the most prolific malware in 2020 continuing the trend from 2019. According to the report, trojans account for 74 per cent of attacks, while viruses, worms, backdoors and “others” account for 9 per cent, 7 per cent, 7 per cent and 3 per cent respectively. Also noteworthy is the fact that trojans have seen a 40 per cent growth in prolificness, moving from accounting for 34 per cent of successful attacks to 74 per cent of attacks.

COVID-19 specific malware thrives

The Nokia Threat Intelligence Report notes that cybercriminals took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic by creating specific malware targeted at exploiting the fears of people during the pandemic. Malware like CoViper, COVIDLock Android Ransomware, and “Coronavirus Maps” trojan have been used on mobile networks to attack unsuspecting victims. According to Nokia, “Some of the malware observed in mobile and fixed networks has been created specifically for the occasion. They were mostly created hastily and are not very sophisticated, but are nonetheless effective, as users became more susceptible to the tricks used by the attackers.